Lesson 2

In part two of the Coach's Corner the correct gun mount and how critical this technique is for success in shooting shotguns will be the topic.  My partner and friend, Gary Hackney inquired if this technique about gun mount would be better if it proceeded the importance of  'gun fit.'    I agreed fully; however my choice was to try and first convey the most critical component of shooting shotguns, that being that the gun must shoot where you look.  If anything must take place in your learning curve, it must be that only when you know the "gun shoots where I look" can you begin to make progress.   Mr. Hackney has said "that shooting shotguns is hard enough with out having to fight the gun!"  Since this mount and gun fit must be obtained before you can begin to build any realistic knowledge about why the last target was called "Dead" or "Lost!"    As a brief caveat, all advice offered by well meaning friends is truly intended to help you to shoot with more consistency; however such advice may not always be accurate so learn to mount and how to know if your gun fit is correct.  Problem solving and sorting out minor details is much easier if you trust yourself, sort this problem out and know how it can be verified.

The Mount

The approach to mounting can be made in two classic methods and about a dozen close variations of the two.  Style 1 is the more classical method the British developed so that the student could learn how to place the gun in the same position in relation to the face, shoulder and eye.  If the gun is not properly mounted the gun fit will not be maintained.  I repeat, the gun fit will not be maintained if the gun was not properly mounted and it will not shoot where you are looking unless you can mount it properly.  The simplicity of this formula places full responsibility on you, the only person who can make the necessary changes to eliminate the problem.

Our method begins with the shooter holding the gun parallel with the ground, it is then moved slightly forward to clear the body and brought upward until it touches the cheek.  At this point the variations begin because no two of us are built the same.  Some men need 10"of forward allowance to clear their middle while a lady may need to clear her chest, so here is a hint, keep the gun parallel to the ground; however when the gun arrives at your cheek, that portion of the stock that touches your face  is where your face should  remain.  If your gun is fitted to you, then that 'fit' is where your face has to be every time (you would like to break the target.)  At the point of touching your cheek you should be drawing the gun into the pocket while moving forward toward the pad. 

Some variations in your mount may be due to your mental perception of what you believe to be a correct gun mount.   If you mount with your eyes closed and only open them when you feel you have completed the mount, you should see exactly the same view of the gun EVERY TIME you mount the gun (makes no difference if the gun is fitted at this point, you should get the same view of that gun EVERY TIME.)   If you do not see the exact same view, then you must first 'learn' to place the gun in contact with your face and shoulder the same way every time, so here are a few tricks/markers that can speed up the process.   The markers I use are the toe on my pad, making sure it touches my chest in the same place at approximately the same time it touches my face.  When mounted correctly the relationship between my eye and the rib, beads and barrel is ALWAYS the same.  Whether you have a rib with a single bead, double beads or no rib or beads, your mount must always give you the same view each time you mount.  Master this first even if you do not have your gun fitted.  If you want to learn to shoot a shotgun with a modicum of success, practice your shotgun mount daily until you are consistent.  How critical you are to little variations at this point will pay dividends at the range.  When you mount do you have to change your face around on the stock?  If you have to 'wiggle into' position practice your mount to eliminate the wiggle fit. 

The advantage of method 2 is that it allows for a better fit between the gun and the pocket/face/stock relationship.  In this method, you would hold the shotgun at about a 45 degree angle above your shoulder with the gun stock being brought down and back into your face and the pocket of your shoulder.  In this method when you have mounted you still have the gun pointing up about 45 degrees, and from that position you lower the gun to the shooting position with out 'wiggling in' and still see the same view each time.  One variation of the mount is that if you shoot with the arm that holds the back of the stock parallel to the ground you should be locked into your stock  The sooner you learn the correct placement of the gun in the 'pocket' the happier you will be.  

If you can mount the gun, the 'real test' is not shooting a pattern board, but rather shooting targets that are flying!  That does make more sense than shooting a stationary target, so this is the method to begin to learn where your gun currently shoots in relationship to the flying target.  All you need to do is find a time when the Trapper can lock the machine on dead straight away targets and will allow you to shoot from station 3.  Within a few shots you should be smoking the targets.  If not, here is how to diagnosis where your gun is shooting in relationship to where you are looking.  If your target breaks and the pieces go up, you are shooting low and making contact with the top portion (12:00) of the shot pattern.  If the pieces go down you are shooting high and hitting the target with the 6:00 portion of the pattern.  This leaves 3:00 and 9:00 to explain the pieces going left or right respectfully.  This may take several shots to see a discernable pattern, so do not rush the process.  If the target was there and disappears and all that is left is 'black smoke' then you have placed the center core of the pattern exactly where it needs to be.

When you make changes in your shooting form or gun try to verify that it helps you to 'smoke' more targets; however remember that your goal for any change is to improve your gun control.  Go back to Station 3 and lock the machine.  The results are the reality of what you have mastered to that point.

When you have a problem that is not working out, there are times when the employment of an Instructor is useful; however choose wisely and expect results.  When in doubt arrange for a field where they will lock the trap on dead straight aways and shoot until you either begin to sort out the problem or realize you need to seek help.